QIAGEN completes acquisition of Operon Technologies

<%=company1%> today announced the closing of the acquisition of Operon Technologies, Inc., a recognized leader in the area of high-end and added-value synthetic DNA, as well as in the area of tools building on synthetic DNA expertise, such as synthetic genes and DNA microarray tools. The definitive agreement to acquire Operon was announced on June 12, 2000.

Under the terms of the agreement, QIAGEN issued approximately 598,000 shares of common stock and assumed options on Operon Technologies common stock exercisable for an additional 106,000 shares of QIAGEN common stock. The transaction is intended to qualify as a tax-free reorganization and to be accounted for as a pooling of interests. As previously announced, QIAGEN expects to incur charges related to the acquisition of approximately $4.0 million net after taxes in the Company's financial results for the second quarter ending June 30, 2000.

Operon Technologies, Inc. was established in 1986 and employs today over 100 people at its facilities in Alameda, California. Operon Technologies has built a leading position in the manufacture and marketing of synthetic nucleic acids, DNA microarrays and synthetic genes.

QIAGEN N.V., a Netherlands holding company with subsidiaries in Germany, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, France, Italy, Australia and Canada, believes it is the world's leading provider of innovative enabling technologies and products for the separation, purification and handling of nucleic acids. The Company has developed a comprehensive portfolio of more than 280 proprietary, consumable products for nucleic acid separation, purification and handling, nucleic acid amplification, as well as automated instrumentation, synthetic nucleic acid products and related services. QIAGEN's products are sold in more than 42 countries throughout the world to academic research markets and to leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. In addition, the Company is positioning its products for sale into developing commercial markets, including DNA sequencing and genomics, nucleic acid-based molecular diagnostics, and genetic vaccination and gene therapy. QIAGEN employs approximately 1,200 people worldwide.